Sunset can glow
Weld’s very promising Summer Sunset has to get the nap to win the opening Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden.
The daughter of Grand Lodge is taking a big drop in class, having contested the Group Three Debutante Stakes at the Curragh last time.
She was far from disgraced, finishing just over five lengths fifth behind Aidan O’Brien’s well-regarded Necklace.
The form received a timely boost at Fairyhouse on Sunday when Southern Bound, seventh at the Curragh, defied top weight in a nursery.
Weld’s frustrating Ballyconnell can finally put it all together in the Kerry Petroleum Arthur Blennerhassett Beginners Chase.
He usually finds at least one too good for him, but that wasn’t the case at Tipperary last time.
Ballyconnell passed the post in front, half a length to the good over No Big Rush, but lost the prize in the stewards’ room.
The selection’s best quality is his jumping and the fact that four fences were eliminated from that particular Tipperary event wasn’t in his favour. Trust him to redress the balance now!
Feature event is the Patsy Byrne Handicap Hurdle, but this looks a hard race to call.
Lafayette and Columba were third and fourth respectively behind Sabadilla in the Galway Hurdle, separated by a length, and maybe Columba will emerge the better on this occasion.
The concluding Fillies Maiden looks a cracking event of its type and the market should certainly prove lively.
The vote falls on Butterfly Blue, beaten a length and a half by My Renee over today’s trip at Cork, before finding an extended seven furlongs all too short at Tipperary last Thursday.
